Accelerating the implementation of social determinants of health interventions in internal medicine

As income disparities widen, health at the individual and population levels continue to diverge across the socioeconomic spectrum. Addressing social determinants of health (SDH) within the delivery of medical care has the potential to reduce long-standing health disparities while also aligning with the quadruple aim in health care: enhancing the patient experience, improving population health, reducing costs, and improving the work life of health care providers. To accelerate the inclusion of SDH in routine internal medicine practice, we suggest five actionable steps: (1) adoption of professional guidelines from expert panels and professional societies, (2) policies supporting the development of new and adaptable SDH care models, (3) additional research on the effect of implementing SDH screening and referral interventions on physician burnout and the primary care pipeline, (4) promotion of clinical–community collaborations, and (5) providing appropriate reimbursement. Addressing SDH as a core component of internal medicine practice is critical for achieving health equity in the U.S.